The Evolution Of John Malkovich

Places In The Heart (1984)

The Film: Malkovich’s first film role worthy of note got him an Oscar nod, and its star, Sally Field, won the award for Best Actress.

It told the story of a widow (Field) who tries to keep her farm running after her husband’s death.

The Role: Mr Will was blinded in the first world war, though he manages to help poor old Sally keep her farm.

She really needs the help, too, so it’s jolly nice of him.

The Creepy: His ’30s get up, bow-tie and hairline make him seem a little bit like a clown. A clown with John Malkovich’s voice.

That’s pretty creepy.

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The Glass Menagerie (1987)

The Film: Directed by Paul Newman, 1987's The Glass Menagerie was an adaptation of Tennessee Williams' play.

Years ago, Tom (Malkovich) walked out on his sister and his mother after one too many spats. And he's here to tell the tale. It's mighty melancholy.

The Role: Tom gives an account of his family life - back in the day when his delusional mother was desperate to find the perfect husband for her shy, disabled daughter. And all she wants to do is play with her little glass animals. Back off, mum!

The Creepy: Tom spends a fair bit of time skulking around an abandoned apartment block. It's an unnerving image.

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Empire Of The Sun (1987)

The Film: The most celebrated performance in Empire Of The Sun is undoubtedly that of twelve-year-old Christian Bale.

What about Ben Stiller, eh?! He's in it too. He's got lines, and he's all serious. Well done, Ben!

The Role: When Jamie (Bale) is separated from his parents and whisked off to a Japanese POW camp, Malkovich's Basie befriends him. He is a bit of a rogue, though, and teaches Jamie how to be a proper little artful dodger. It's sweet, in a way.

The Creepy: He's a bit too cool to be creepy - however, he does send a child through the barbed-wire fence to test for mines.

It may not be creepy, but it sure is cold.

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Dangerous Liaisons (1988)

The Film: In Rococo France, a bunch of toffs are bored with the banality of aristocratic life: endless bottles of wine and trays of pastries.

The Marquise (Glenn Close) and the Vicomte (Malkovich) embark upon a game of seduction and deception, which is far more exciting than wasting their lives in a foie-gras and Beaujolais-induced stupor.

The Role: The Vicomte de Valmont is the ex-lover of the Marquise, and it's said that, "what is true of most men is doubly so of him".

We think it's meant as an insult.

The Creepy: This man is a predator .

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Of Mice And Men (1992)

The Film: If you never studied it at school, here's the gist: George (Gary Sinise) and Lenny (Malkovich) are best buds. They're after work so that they can pursue their dream - to settle down on their own piece of land.

The Role: Lovely lumbering Lenny isn't as smart as his companion - he has quite a limited mental capacity.

He loves stroking soft things, although he is immensely strong, and often ends up crushing things which are too delicate. And when this happens, it ain't pretty.

The Creepy: We don't find Lenny creepy. Not a jot. Though we're not sure if we'd let him stroke our hair.

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In The Line Of Fire (1993)

The Film: Frank (Clint Eastwood), who was in the Secret Service when Kennedy was assassinated, is understandably super-protective of the current president.

He's got a job on his hands, in the form of psychotic assassin Mitch Leary (Malkovich).

The Role: Mitch is not a nice man. He used to be a CIA assassin, so he's pretty darn good at shooting people.

The Creepy: Oh dear Lord, look at how creepy. That face is the thing of nightmares.

His quiet, measured voice haunts Eastwood's Frank throughout the movie. This man is messed up.

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Mary Reilly (1996)

The Film: Mary Reilly saw the reunion of the old Dangerous Liaisons team (Malkovich, Glenn Close, Stephen Frears and screenwriter Christopher Hampton).

Burn After Reading (2008)

It provided a little light relief from their previous heavyweight venture No Country For Old Men . Not as many people die in Burn After Reading .

The Role: Osborne Cox has a drinking problem. He's demoted and decides to resign from his position in the CIA. When his memoirs go missing, a whole world of complications arise.

The Creepy: Not even an effing trace of creepy. He's too busy effing and blinding to be effing creepy.

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Disgrace (2008)

The Film: Although it premiered fifteen months ago at the Toronto Film Festival, Disgrace has only just reached the UK, where it's coming out this Friday.

When a South African professor is forced to resign after conducting an affair with a student, he goes to live with his estranged daughter in the South African countryside.

Here, he experiences the harsh and unjust reality of a country ravaged by racial tension. It's strong stuff.

The Role: Malkovich is dead serious as David Lurie, who leaves Cape Town to stay with his daughter. He finds himself helpless when they are victims of a viscious attack. It's not for the faint-hearted.

The Creepy: Any Malkovich creepiness is quickly subdued by fierce drama. Cracking.